Discharge-indicating device



Filed May 14 1921 O H ESCHHOLZ DISCHARGE INDICATING DEVICE WITNESSES:

Patented July 10, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO H. ESCHHOLZ, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB 'I'O wnsrmo- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

DISCHARGE-INDICATING DEVICE.

Application filed Kay 14, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, O'rro H. ESCHHOLZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsbur in the county of Allegheny and State of ennsylvania, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Dischargel'ndicatin Devices, of which the following is a speci cation.

My invention relates to lightning arresters and it has particular relation to devices adapted to record the discharges thereof.

()ne object of my invention is to provide a device of the above indicated character that shall record the discharges of the arrester and the time of their occurrence.

Another object is to rovide recording devices that will operate or long periods of time without the services of an attendant.

Heretofore, it has been customary to record the discharges of a lightning arrester by placing a small sheet of paper between the spaced electrodes thereof to be punctured by a discharge therebetween. 0n the next visit of the attendant, the paper may be removed and, if it is punctured, the attendant has evidence of the fact that a discharge has occurred. However, the number of discharges and the approximate time of occurrence are not indicated by such means.

By my invention, I provide a device whereby the number of discharges and the approximate time of occurrence will he indicated upon a. permanent record which may cover any desired period of time.

i More specifically, my invention comprises so mounting a continuous movable strip of paper between two electrodes as to form a record of the number of discharges and the approximate times of their occurrence.

This device is actuated by means of a thermally operated bi-metallic element which is responsive to the differences in temperature occurring at various times durin night and day.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing, is a perspective view of a lightning arrester discharge recording device constructed in accordance with my invention.

In the drawing, I show a line wire 1 serving as a source of electromotive force for the apparatus to be protected. The line wire 1 is connected to a discharge electrode 2, of a lightning arrester, bymeans of a conductor 3. Spaced from the discharge Serial Nb. 469,676.

electrode 2 is a cooperating electrode 4 which is connected to ground, as indicated at 5, by means of a conductor 6. The space between the electrodes 2 and 4 may be varied, depending upon the potential of the line to be rotected.

ntermediate the horn-gap members 2 and 4 is disposed a continuous movable strip of paper or other suitable material 8, the ends of which are wound upon rotatable drums or rollers 9 and 10, respectively. The roller 10 is loosely mounted upon a shaft 11 and than does the inner layer 19 thereof, wherefore, the shaft 1 is moved, as indicated the arrow 20, when the element 16 is heated and in the reverse direction when the latter is cooled.

Rigidly mounted upon the shaft 11 is a member 21 on which is pivotally mounted a pawl 22 by means of a pin 23. The pawl 22 is adapted to co-operate with a ratchet wheel 24 which is fixedly mounted on the drum 10. A spring 25 serves to hold the pawl 22 in en gagement with the ratchet wheel 24. The bi-metallic element 16 is of such construction and of such roportions thatthe difference between the egrees of temperatures at various times during the day and night is sufiicient to cause movement thereof.

Fixedly mounted upon the end of the shaft adjacent to the ratchet wheel 12 is a reversing gear mechanism 27. The gear mechanism comprises a relatively small gear wheel 28 which is mounted upon the shaft 11 and isadapted to drive a rigidly mounted gear wheel 29 which, in turn, drives an internally toothed large gear. wheel 30 in a direction opposite to that of the gear wheel 28. The gear wheel 30 is provided, upon its periphery, with a lug 31 in which is mounted a pin 32 to serve as a pivotal support for a pawl 33 which engages the ratchet wheel 12. A coil spring 34 serves to hold the pawl 33 in engagement with the ratchet wheell2.

causes the member 21, which supports the pawl 22, to move rotatively and thus effect a corresponding movement of the drum 10. The ratchet wheel 12, which is also fixedly mounted upon the drum 10, is thus moved without interference by the 'pawls 13 and 33,.

The drum 9 rotates freely and is turned by the movement of the drum 10 through the action of the strip of paper 8.

Subsequently, when the temperature of the atmosphere falls, the shaft 11 is moved in the opposite direction from that indicated by the arrow 20 and correspondingly moves the member 21 in the same direction, thus causing the pawl member 22 to slide over the ratchet wheel 24. Movement in the reverse direction by the'drum 10 is prevented by means of the pawl 13 engaging the ratchet wheel 12. When the "shaft is move-d in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow 20, the reversing mechanism 27 causes the pawl 33 to drive the ratchet wheel 12 in 'a forward direction, thus causing the drum 10 to be correspondingly moved.

Discharges occurring between the members 2 and 4 will be indicated by slight perforations burned in the strip of paper 8, as indicated at 25.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the strip 8 will be moved by means of the bi-metallic element 16 in such manner that .the number of discharges and the approximate time of occurrence thereof may be determined by an examination of the strip 8, which is wound upon the drum 10. Also, it will be observed that no attention whatso-ver will be required by a device of this character, which may, if desired, be operated unattended for a period of months.

While I have shown but a single embodiment of my invention, further changes and modifications may be made without departing fron the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a lightning arrester comprising two spaced discharge members, a discharge-recordingmember disposed intermediate said discharge members and means dependent upon variations in the atmospheric temperature for moving said dischar e-recording member.

2. In com ination with a lightning arrester comprising two spaced discharge members, a discharge-recording member disposed intermediate said discharge members and means actuated in accordance with changes in atmospheric temperature for moving said discharge-recording member.

3. In combination with a lightning 'arrester comprising two spaced discharge members, a discharge-recording member disposed intermediate said discharge members and means for moving said dischargerecording member upon a rise in the temperature of the atmosphere.

4. In combination with two spaced discharge members, a strip of paper adapted to pass therebetween, a drum adapted to actuate said strip of paper, and a bi-metallic element adapted to actuate said drum intermittently. v

5. In combination with two spaced discharge members, a strip of paper ada ted to pass therebetween, a drum adapte to actuate said strip of paper and a bimetallic element adapted to actuate said drum upon a rise of the temperature of the atmosphere.

6. In combination with two spaced discharge members, a strip of paper adapted to pass therebetween, a drum adapted to actuate said strip of paper and means responsive to changes in atmospheric temperature for actuating said drum;

7. In combination with two spaced discharge members, a strip of paper ada ted to pass therebetween, a drum adapte to actuate said strip of paper and a bimetallic element responsive to changes in atmospheric temperature between day and night for intermittently actuating said drum.

8. In combination with two spaced discharge members, a strip of paper adapted to pass therebetween, a drum adapted to actuate said strip of paper, a ratchet wheel operatively connected to said drum, a pawl adapted to co-operate with said ratchet wheel to actuate the same and a coiled bi;

9. In -combination with two spaced discharge members, a strip of pa er adapted to pass therebetween, a drum apted to actuate said strip of paper, a ratchet wheel operatively connected to said drum, a pawl ,metallic element adapted to actuate said pawl.

adapted to co-operate with said ratchet wheel to actuate the same and a coiled bimetallic element adapted to actuate said pawl upon a rise in the temperature of the atmos here.

10. n combination with two spaced'discharge members, a strip of paper adapted to pass therebetween, a drum adapted to actuate said strip of paper, a ratchet wheel ogeratively connected to said drum, a pawl a apted to co-operate with said ratchet wheel to actuate the same and a coiled bimetallic element fixedly mounted at can end and having its other end attached to said pawl, said bi-metallic element being adapted to move said pawl upon a change in the temperature of the atmosphere.

11. In combination with a lightning arrester comprising two spaced discharge members, a discharge-recording member disposed intermediate said discharge members and means for moving said dischargerecording member upon a rise or a fall in the temperature of the atmosphere.

12. In combination with two spaced discharge members, a strip of paper adapted to pass therebetween, a drum adapted to actuate said strip of paper and a bimetallic element adapted to actuate said drum upon a fall of the temperature of the atmosphere.

13. In combination with two spaced discharge members, a strip of paper adapted to pass therebetween, a drum adapted to actuate said strip of paper and a bi-metallic element adapted to actuate said drum upon either a rise or a fall of the temperature of the atmosphere.

14. In combination with two spaced discharge members, a strip of paper adapted to pass therebetween, a drum adapted to actuate said strip of paper, two ratchet wheels operatively connected to said drum, two pawls adapted to co-operate with said ratchet wheels to actuate the same, and a coiled bi-metallic element adapted to actuate one of said pawls to move said ratchet wheel upon a rise in the temperature of the atmosphere and adapted to actuate the other of said paWls to rotate said ratchet wheel upon a fall in the temperature of the atmosphere.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day of May, 1921.

OTTO H. ESCHHOLZ. 

